Most Albertans will never cross paths with Kendall Longclaws, 30, a deaf man who faces several sexual assault charges.
Deaf from birth, he cannot read, use a phone, understand a calendar, or communicate beyond a few gestures, grunts, the single spoken word “brother,” and writing his own name.
According to the National Post, he also lacks any comprehension of language.
As a result, Alberta’s top court has used the accused’s lack of language to halt his sexual assault case, ruling a deaf man without language could not constitutionally stand trial.
The ruling has perplexed prosecutors, who are unable to try the case, thus exposing a gap in Canada’s justice system.
